Gulfcoast Hardcore Fest

Neworleansmusicians.net recently got a chance to sit with Seth from Light's Bane Booking. We learned about the state of the hardcore scene in NOLA, and about his next festival. The Gulfcoast Hardcore Fest will be happening at Dragon's Den on November 29^th at 2pm. Tickets are only three dollars and, at the time of this interview, fifteen bands were confirmed to play! Seth has booked dozens of bands over the years, and has strived to make sure that they get paid and fans get the most for their money. "I try to avoid venues that want a cut of the door because they're usually unfair. And the more money you charge at the door for independent unknown bands, the less people have to spend on band merchandise, food, or drinks." In speaking with Seth, one could easily pick up on his passion for the music scene.

He spoke of lasting friendships built around music, and packed houses that encourage people to get to know one another. Small venues have never been something that Seth has shied away from in the past. "Being so tightly packed together is what makes punk shows, punk shows. You want to be up close to the bands that you like. You want to be up close to the speakers so that you can really hear the noise that's ripping your ears to shreds. You want to be close to the people you know and like because you want to dance with them. You want to mosh together, or shout lyrics together". Light's Bane is known for creating intimate, intense atmospheres that cater to the local scene. Seth feels the music that comes from Louisiana, no matter the genre, contains a sound unique to this area. And it is because of this inimitable quality that musicians, promoters, and fans have stuck together through the hardest. "Even after Katrina, when there was basically nothing happening anywhere around here, there were gutted out house shows with generators happening at least weekly. There were people contacting people from out of town, planning, because some band members weren't coming back. Afterward, there were a lot of really rocky starts and early ends. But since then, so much has just changed and adapted to re-establish the south as a solid music community."

Seth knew there was not much money to be made booking hard core bands. But complimentary to his love of this music was his knowledge of the scene. "In fact, hard core, punk, and metal shows do the absolute worst for the venues' profit margins. And the people that come don't necessarily drink alcohol, they don't necessarily get floored like some college kids might in a group outing. These are people that go to shows all the time and are constantly putting their money into the music community. And their pockets are spread thin, but they're consistent." Clearly, fans don't go unnoticed by Light's Bane Booking, and many could be considered as friends. Oddly enough, fickle crowds have been an obstacle for Seth, as well as any promoter. A show last month on a Tuesday might pack the house, while a Wednesday or Thursday show next month may draw few. But through the years, Light's Bane Booking has stood fast, drawing inspiration from crowds and handfuls alike. As a fan, Seth can tell you how he feels about small shows. "Some of the best shows I've been to have been in peoples' kitchens, or living rooms, and there's no space at all. There's hardly space to stand in the rooms. Most people get stuck in the kitchens or in the backyards and hallways. And most people are ok with it because there's something really awesome going on that they're a part of, regardless of how uncomfortable it is."

He still maintains that the more popular, more commercialized punk shows lack a certain quality that has nothing to do with the size of the crowd. The interaction of the band with the fans, and the dedication of those fans, is what makes or breaks a show. "They are people that come to every show; own every shirt the band's put out, own the 7 inches, the demos, the CD-Rs, the cassette tapes, the twelve inches, fliers, patches, stickers, and buttons and everything they can get their hands on. Some of us that have been able to keep the old stuff cherish these things more than maybe the latest Green Day CD that comes out." Light's Bane Booking is not a commercial venture. It is not in this business to make money. After all these years, he's just now posting an e-mail address. Light's Bane Booking is a group of fans that are in the streets, and at shows, sticking together. This is the truest representation of the phrase "support your local music scene". And with a three dollar cover for fifteen plus bands, you can't help but support their efforts. Listed below are links to some, if not all, of the bands playing on the 29^th. Also listed are some of the contributors to this show, and the hard core scene in general. So check out the bands, show love as a fan, and come mosh with the best of your local indie hard core speaker slayers!

~~BANDS~~BANDS~~BANDS~~BANDS~~BANDS~~


A Hanging (La) Idiot Icon (FL)
Myspace.com/ahanging Myspace.com/esndpunk

We Need To Talk (La) Legion (AL)
Myspace.com/wntt Myspace.com/legionbham

Justin Bailey (La) Severe Discomfort (AL)
Myspace.com/justinbailey Myspace.com/severediscomfort

We Are The Living (La) Bloated Carcass (AL)
Myspace.com/theliving Myspace.com/bloatedcarcass

Party Time (La) Werewolf Casey (MS)
Myspace.com/partytimepricks Myspace.com/werewolfcasey

Reclaim Life (La) Mordechai (MS)
Myspace.com/toreclaimlife Myspace.com/mordechaisound

Hangtime (La) A Fist Full Of Fingers (MS)
Myspace.com/hangtimehc Myspace.com/affof

The Fun Boys
Myspace.com/thefunboyshc


Below are the links for people that have had a hand in this show, and in the local hard core scene.


Light's Bane Booking Carson Slovak
Myspace.com/lightsbanebooking Myspace.com/Century


Russel Moran Bryan Funck
Evolve.adesso@yahoo.com flyerstorm@yahoo.com

Matt Fogherty
Myspace.com/Sisera

~ ~ ~ Publications ~ ~ ~

Six Ten Split

Magazine covering a lot of underground N.O. ska, punk, metal, jazz, etc.

Found at Big Top off of St. Charles

Paranoize- magazine containing interviews with local bands, reviews of various extreme genres, show listing, etc. Check out paranoizenola.com

Article by Dopamine for Neworleansmusicians.net